The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-06-02
The Story of Tom, Joe and Jake.

CuuStduSCo tOlu III lCSoio W AAA A1SV
became known.
The Story of Tom, Joe and Jake.
Tom Collett, with two friends whom !
shall christen Joe and Jake, was making
a slow and painful journey from Pine
Grove, Esmeralda county, to eastern
Nevada. They camped one afternoon near
some hot springs not far from Walker
lake. Discovering large hole or pool.
that was full of cold water and conven.i
ientto one of the hottest of the hot
springs, they turned the hot water as it
flowed out of the spring into the pool.
until the hot and cold water blending
made it exactly the right temperature for
q bath. This done, they plunged in and
enjoyed the delicious water as only those
can who have travelled some days over
dusty alkali trails in hot weather. When,
supper was over and they had lighted
their pipes, the theme of conversation
for q long time as they smoked, was the
delicious bath they had taken. and the
wonderful sense of refreshment it had
brought them. Full of the joy of it, they
spread their blankets on grassy plot
beneath some willows few yards distant
from the spring aud fell asleep.
Tom was up with the dawn. Recollec-
tions of his fine bath of the previous
evening were still fresh in his mind. So,
bounding up from his blankets wita1 a
skip and a'jump, he plunged into the
pool to his middle. With a groan Of
agony be sprang out again with the agil-
ity of wildcat. The hot water had been
running all night. Hours before dawn
the cold.water pool had been rendered
almost as hot as that Of the hot apring
itself. Brief as had been the period be.
tween his entry and his exit, Toms fair
skin was changed to the color of boiled
lobster. He was soon in terrible state,
as the skin was almost sufficiently cooked
to peel off. AS he asserts, he "was as
tender as young pullet that had been
cooked two hours" With infinite care
he drew on his pantaloons and boots
though be felt as though the cooked flesh
were peeling off in strips wherever bis
clothing touched him. Forcingback the
tears of anguish that we're yelling out
of his eyes Tom crept'I.back to camp.
Though it was most difficult thing to
DO, he put Oh lis old time frank smileaa
he neared the sleeping place at the vii.
lows, for Jake had awakened and was
sitting on his blankets, gaping and
stretching.
Seeing Tom approach, Jake asked
where he had been-if he had been Out
looking after their ponies. Tom replied
that he had so enjoyed his bath of the
evening before, and had been so much
benefited by it, that he could not think
of breaking up camp without repeating
it.
"Jake," said he, "it's just lovely |!
lake did not wait TO hear more. Bouuc.
lug up from his blankets he rushed away
toward the pool. AS swiftly as he could
move, considering the tender condition
of his skin, Tom followed, and dodgine
behind convenient clump of willows
kept covert watch. Jake threw off the
few duds in which he had slept, bounced
into the pool, uttered yell Of mingled
anguish and rage, then clawed his way
out upon the green turf with the celebrity
of an adder. AS soon as he stood erec
he began making swift applications O
his open hands to various parts of hi'
body to arrest the pain, each particular
square inch of his hide seeming to hur
worse than the other. All this time ht
was swearing blue streak. Louder ant
louder rose his voice, as light began t
break upon his mind, when Tom stepped
out from his hiding place, crying: "Hust
up! Would you bawl like bull cal
and give, ,us away, when that other son o.
a gun up in camp is not yet cooked
You and I have had our dose. Man, ne
must cook him or we shall never heal
the last of it." Soothed by this, Jake
carefully drew on his trousers and st;r1
and the pair leisurely proceed to camp
By this time Joe had commenced tc
rouse up. Seeing Tom and Jake ap'
preaching he asked if they had "found
the stock-the ponies?"
"Ponies no." said Tom, "we haven't
been looking for the ponies. We have
been taking bath. Do you think" said
he, as he. stood holding his pantaloons
away from the rear of his person, edo you
think we'd break camp without one more
magnificent swim? Not much"
At this Joe sprang up crying: "Not
much, you bet |" and dashed away toward
the little pond. As Joe disappeared be.
hind the willows Tom sprang for his pis.
tol and took off all the caps. He and
Jake then secured their own revolvers,
Tom crying: "Get your pistol, Jake,
quick There'lI be business when Joe
comes back /" In about two minutes Joe
did come back. He, bowling and ours
ing furiously, and, all naked as he was,
never stopped running until he had got
his six shooter in his hand.
nDrnn n p' aaid Tom. "T hava dead